New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-26
JOHN AYDERSovS DISPUTED WILL.
STILL oUARRELLINe OVER HIS SANITY.

EX-GOVERNOR CURTIN THOUGHT HIM sANE-TEsII-
MoNI OF OTHER WITNESSES.
The attempt by an eecment suit to break the will
Of John Anderson. the millionaire tobacconist. which
was long ago probated, was continued by Mrs. Mary
Maud WAtson's lawyers yesterday in the Supreme
Court before Justice Lawrence and jury 1t was the
ninth day OF the trial of the suit against kessrs Phye
and Campbell Who hold deeds oil the property in dis
pute ON the west side of Fifth-ave extending from
Eitty-eighth to Fifty-ninth SITS ExJudge George NJ.
Curtis appeared for tho plaintiff, and ex-Judges
William II. Arnoux and James NJ. Smith for the
had known John Anderson since 1876. related con
vcrsatons with him in regard to real estate transac
tons, and said he had never observed anything
irrational in hls talk actions.
Ex-Governor Andrew q. Curtin, OF Pennsylvania,
was the next witness He gave his testimony in q
dignfed and direct way which seemed to please all
parties. He said he made the acquaintance OF John
Anderson during the When the witness went to
Europe in 1867, Mr.. Anderson sent General Garibaldi
q contribution He noticed no decay In the faculties
OF Mr. Anderson up 10 the time OF his death, and
never saw anything irrational in him. / am
Judge you know said Mr. Curtin. "but he never
said or did anything in my presence that | though
irrational He was q quiet, busness-like man. lie
nev or talked TO of spiritualism. | never heard
him speak of conversation with the deadn Mr.. Curtin
said he had come to NewIork voluntarily at the re-
quest of counsel, and without any subpoena.
ExJudge Curis-Y were interested IN the John Ander'
Ut exploded in Two years didn't L Al don't re-
EI:Judse cnriIs-I know something about IT. had
QIt two years wasn't i'll A-Perhaps so; that was
the average life of petroleum companies
The witness said that the stockholders in the com.
pan, lost $75, 900, and denied that there any
endeavOr intention to swindle.
General Singleton also testified that during long
acquaintance with Mr. Anderson he saw nothing
irrational about him.
Chief Justice Joseph F. Barnard, of the Supreme
Court Second District testified that John Anderson
ALWAYS appeared to him to be rational. D. Monroe
Taylor and George q. Barnard, son Of the former
Judge OF the same name and grandson o. John Adder
son and William l.. Wallis, gave testimony OF like
purport.
The plaintiff at this point permitted TO intro
duce the testimony OF ex-senator Abner c. Mattoon
OF Oswego, who said that John Anderson told him
that he had communications from the spirit OF Carl
bald and him face to face and arranged for the
independence of Italy. Anderson said TO him have
had a good deal of trouble about Mary Rogers, but
everything ia settled row. take great pleasure in
communicating with her face TO tace" On one occa-
sion Anderson complained to the witness that at
tempts had been made by his wife ana son 10 poison
him 1he witness regared him "a irrational
On cross examination the witness related CONVEX
sation on the door OF the Assembly Chamber 1865.
in which he ordered John Anderson on the hoOr. He
said In the cloak room John Anderson offered ue
consideration ii would support the Broadway and
Seventh Avenue Railroad bill told him his interests
and NINE were separate. aud that could not agree.
did not tell him the name OF third party to whom
he should 20 ] did not name Jacob Sharp rs the
third party" The witness said that Mr.. Anderson
offered him 81 COO foi his vote
The evidence OF DR.. James A. Milne. taken on tho
first trial. in which he answered hypothetical ques-
tions in such way az to make 1t appear that John
Anderson was insane, read to the jury.
The trial will proceed today.